Hedge-trimmer.



PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

P. F. SEABLOOM.

HEDGE TRIMMER.

APPLIOATION FILED oom. 190e.

2 SHEETS-sum 1.

PATEN'I'ED PEB. 19, 1907.

P. F. SEABLOOM.

HEDGE TRIMMER.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.5. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET `z.

' UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

PEER F.' sEABLooM, oF oRMoND, FLORIDA.

Specification of Letters' Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

Application filed October 5, 1906. Serial No. 337,586.

hedge-trimming tools or implements, andv more particularly to one having a rotary Scythe or cutter.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical' device of this character which will greatl lessen the labor of trimming hedges an allow the operator to do more eflicient work.

Further objects andadvantages, as well as the structural features by means of which they are attained, will be'made'clear by an examination of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying w/drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top 1:plan view of my improved hedge-trimmer. 1g. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. Figs. 3, 4'are vertical transverse sectional views taken, respectively,

. on the Fplanes indicated by the lines 3 3 and 4 4 in ig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a detail plan view ofthe finger plate or section. v

My proved rotary hedge-trimmer comprises a substantially circular body or casing 1,'having'around its front or outer edge a plurality ofiingers 2 and pro'ect' from its rearva handle 3, b' means of whic the device may be guide over the top and sides of a hed e in trimming lthe same.. This casing is preerabl formed in three parts or castings-name y, a bottom section 4, atop cover section 5, and a linger or tooth section 6. The bottom section 4 comprises a substantially circular plate 7, having projecting from its front or forward edge a plurality of fingersections 8, which form the lower portions or halves of the fingers 2, the upper halves of the latter being formed tion 6, as presently explained. The rear portion or edge of theplate 7 i's surrounded by an' u wardly-projecting ange 9, from the center o which projects the lower half or section 10 of the handle 3. The upper half-section 11 of the latter rojects in -a similarmanner from a de en ing flange 12', formed around the rear e ge of the main portion of the top or cover section 5, said main portion of the Eortions or' y the seclatter 'having its front end concaved, as shown at 13. Upon the center of the bottom of the plate 7 is formed a depending coneshaped enlargement 14, in the center of which is formed a vertically-extending screwthreaded aperture 15, and formed in the top of the plate 7, concentric withv the opening 15, is a cone-shaped seat 16 for an annular row of bearing-balls 17. l Also formed upon the top of the plate 7, adjacent to its outer and forward edge and concentric with the opening 15, is an upwardly-projecting rib 18, which extends a proximately half-way around -the plate. bpormed centrally in the main portion of the ltop section 5 is an opening 19, arranged in vertical alinement with the opening 15 in the plate 7.

The openings 15 19 are adapted to receive the reduced threaded ends'20 21 of a vertical bolt or shaft 22, which serves both to connect the bottom and top sections of the casing together and also as a bearing for the rotary 'cutter or scythe. The reduced end 2O 1s screwed into the opening 15 until an annular shoulder, formed at the lower end of the bolt 22 by reducing the same, engages the bottom of the seat 16. A similar annular shoulder is formed at the upper end of the bolt 22 by reducing the same to provide the portion 21, which latter projects through the opening 19 and is adapted to receive a clamping-nut 23.v When the latter is screwed down on the part 21 the casing-'section 5 is clamped upon the shoulder at the upper end of the 'rod 22. The sections 4 5 of the casing are further united by a number of machine-bolts or the like 24, arrangedin' the flanges 12 9, as shown, and the two half-sections 10 11 of the handle 3 are firmly united by similar' bolts 25, the heads/of which are sunkbeneath the outer urface of said handle, as clearly shown in 1g. 4.

Formed around the front and lower edge'of the concaved portion 14 of the top section 5 is a d'e nding rib oriiange 26, whicheverlliwes an is spaced from the rib 18, as shown in ig.- 2. l the rotary cutter or scythe 27, which is preferably in the form of a circular saw and is adapted to have its toothed edge workv frm taperlng finger-sections 28, whic over-.

lie the finger-sections 8 on the plate 7 and are These ribs I8 26 serve as guides for IIO secured'thereto by rivets or similar fastenings 29. The semicircular inner edge -of the plate-section 6 is spacedfrom the front edge of the rib or iiange 26, and in its top or upper surface are formed concave depressions 30, which latter open into substantially circular openings 31, arranged at the rear ends ofthe spaces 32 between the ingers2. y

The openings 31 are formed in both the section and plate 7 ofthe bottom section-4 and -form pockets in which the twigs areheld While being cut'. by the rotary sawl or cutter 27, which has its toothed edge working in ing, clamped upon the latter by a second' sleeve 37 and .a'clamping-nut 38,

The vclamping-sleeve 37 surrounds the .sleeve 33, and its upper end is engagedby the nut 38, lwhich is screwed upon. the threaded upper end of lthe sleeve 33. This end-of the sleeve 33 .is formed withan annular cone-shaped seat 39 for bearing-balls 40, which are retainedin said seat` by a screwcap 41, arranged upon-the threaded. upper. end'of the sleeve 313. The beveled gear 3 6 mesheswith a similargear 42, fixed by means of a setserew. 43 -upon the forwardendof a shaft .44 ,which extends longtudinallythrough the` handle 3 the sections 10'111of which latter are'madehollow.

' The frontend of the shaft 44 is-mounted for' rotation in an annular. rovwoy bearingballs 46,- arranged in-raceways formedina bearing-block-47, depending. fromthe under side of the tojsection 5, and in a bearing-plate 48, whichisoltedupon block 47, as shown at 49. A stop-collar 50v is fixedly. mounted means of. a set'screw uponthe shaft 44, adjacent to the bearing-block 47, sofas to prevent longitudinal .movementof the shaft 44. in ball-bearings 51, arranged in the handle sections 10 11, as shown in 1. Upon the projectingrear end -of the. shaft 44 is flxeda sprocket-.wheelorpulley- 52, which may be rotated vby a chain or belt for.V the pur ose of ('ipgeratingl the rotary. cutter; 2.7. A eXible shatting or any other suitable. driving'devicemay be substituted for the. element `52.

- In.. usi-ngA my improved hedge-trimming. too1-or,device it Willbe lunderstood that a Amotor. or the lilnerom. which power is obtained -for-operat1I,1-,2; the cutteris mounted .so

that. it can .be rolled along adjacent tov the-4 connections are provided betweenV it and the vshaft 44.A l When.

The, rear end of theshaft 44 Yis journaled.

the latter isV rotated,its movement Will be imparted by the beveled gears 42 36 to the saw or cutter 27 which latter will quickly between thengers 2. By grasping the device by the handle 3 it maybe readily guided over` thetop and sides of va hedge or the like to quickly and effectively trim the same.

The provision of the pockets or recessesy 31 prevents the twigs from slipping out from bethe tooth edge of the cutter, and the provision toothed vedge will contact with-the fingers -2 or other portions of the .framegofthe device.

The provision of the ball-bearings yrenders thedevice easy running, and the Vmanner in which the 'parts ofthe.y casing are Aassembled and connected permits the device tok be pairs. 1

Having thus` described my said invention,

.reari offsaidbody, a semi-annular series-y of spaced iingersprojecting `from .the frontl of -saidi body, twig freceiving fpoeketsf being greater width than-the Width. of theinner ends of said spaces, a'driving-shaft.mountedv for rotation insa-id handle, .agrotary cutter mounted for rotation said.- hollowbody and having its ftooth-cutting. edge Working through said pockets, gearingy betweensaid rota cutter and the inner` end of=said1driv ing-s aft, and adriving element fixed upon the projecting rearend of'said .driving-shaft;- 2- The. herein-described hedge-trimming tool :comprising la hollow"- body having .-.a than dle projecting tromitsl rear'portion anda semi-annular row-of spaeed ingersfprojecting spaces between said ngers being-'contrasted and opening into enlarged twig receiving and holding pockets, and arotary cutter mounted inl said casing.,l and I having.A its cutting .edge working. through .said lpockets.

tool comprising aw-bottom section haying.A a substantm/lly circular vbase-plate formed with a rearwardlyvproj eatinghandle-section and a semi-annular series of f spaced finger-sections, a top easingfsection arranged above the plate of said bottom section and having: a rear-v wardly-extending handle-section: to coact with the first f mentioned f handle-section, a

tions, anger-platefformed with spaced finger# sections arranged upon and secured totheiirstf-mentioned finger. sections, the spaces severythe twigs gathered in the pockets 31" tween the fingers 2 until they are severed by readily, taken. apart for.l cleaning.,I or. for fre` what I claimas new, anddesi-re to )secure byvv 'formed atthe inner.-ends oi?l thespaces .be-4 tween said fingers, said pockets being. of.

of the guide-ribsf18 2d-prevent the cutter from-being sprungfupor. down, so thatl its tool comprising a casingz'having: ahollow body, a hollow handle projeeting'fromthe IIO from its vfront portion, the inner endsof-they 3. The herein-descbed hedge-trimming vertical rod uniting .said -top and bottom sec between the fingers formed by the coacting I tioned sleeve and engaged with said clampnger-sections having their rear ends coning-sleeve, ball-bearings at the opposite tracted and opening into enlarged twig reends of the first-mentioned rotary sleeve, a ceiving and holding pockets, spaced-guidedrive-shaft extending through said handlezo ribs arranged upon the said top and bottom sections and mounted in bearings therein, a sections concentric with said vertical connectbeveled gear fixed upon the inner end of said ing-rod, a sleeve mounted for rotation upon drive-shaft and in mesh with the rst-mensaid rod and having an annular flange at its .ltioned beveled gear, and a driving element lower end, a circular cutter upon said sleeve upon the projecting rear end of said drive- 25 and engaged with said flange, said cutter, shaft, substantially asshown and described. Working between said guide-ribs and in said In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my pockets, a beveled gear arranged upon said signature in presence of two witnesses.

sleeve above said cutter, a clamping-sleeve i PEI-IR F. SEABLOOM. upon the first-mentioned sleeve and engaged Witnesses: with said beveled gear, a clamping-nut upon G. M. WALLACE,

the threadf'achupper end of the rst-men- 1.' L. E. BosrRoM. 

